Rite Aid

Food and Staples Retailing

Risk Level:

Rating - Clear
Lower Risk

Summary:

Rite Aid has worked with a diverse group of customers and suppliers without discrimination. Rite Aid has not supported ideological groups or causes. Rite Aid has not discriminated against workers for their beliefs, either; however, it did fire an employee for bringing a pocket knife to work, which she used to defend herself against an assailant. For these reasons, Rite Aid receives a "Lower Risk" rating. Note: Rite Aid has plans to dispense abortion pills at some of its pharmacies. It is unclear if the pharmacy will allow for religious exemptions for pharmacists that object due to closely held beliefs. 

Criteria
Risk Level
Rationale
Corporate Weaponization
Criteria

Has denied service to customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.

Risk Level
Rationale

Rite Aid pledges to work with suppliers and customers regardless of their viewpoints (1). In 2020, a Rite Aid employee was fired for defending herself and the store from a violent customer, although Rite Aid alleges the use of a pocket knife for self-defense warranted the firing (2). Rite Aid has plans to dispense abortion pills at some of its pharmacies (3). It is unclear if the pharmacy will allow for religious exemptions for pharmacists that object due to closely held beliefs.

Criteria

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level
Rationale

Rite Aid limits its charitable giving to organizations that support children’s health and welfare. Rite Aid does not prohibit donations to religious groups that support Rite Aid’s charitable mission (1)(2).

Criteria

Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.

Risk Level
Rationale

RiteAid does not protect its employees from viewpoint discrimination (1)(2).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy
Criteria

Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

There are no publicly known cases of Rite Aid using its corporate reputation to advance an ideological agenda.

Criteria

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Rite Aid’s foundation does not give to any ideological groups hostile to freedom of expression (1).

Criteria

Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level
Rationale

Rite Aid has not used its PAC to support purely ideological groups’ causes. It uses the PAC for business-related donations (1).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
January 30, 2023

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